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Munchak picks Broncos over Steelers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Mike Munchak, who had been a finalist for Denver’s head coaching job, is making a lateral move from the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve as the Broncos’ new offensive line coach.

“There’s nobody better as an offensive line coach than Mike Munchak,” new coach Vic Fangio said Monday. “The combination of his ability to coach the individual with his ability to coach the group, while also being a big part of the overall offense, is very impressive. Mike’s experience and stature as a coach in the NFL make this a home run hire for us.”

The Broncos also are allowing Gary Kubiak to interview elsewhere and have received permission to interview 49ers QBs coach Rich Scangarello for their offensive coordinator opening, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because the Broncos haven’t publicly commented on their offensive coordinator situation.

Kubiak, 57, who helped general manager John Elway hit the jackpot in the 2018 NFL draft while serving as his senior personnel adviser , was expected to run Denver’s offense in 2019.

The Broncos decided not to bring back the old schemes and staff that Kubiak had in mind, however. So, the Broncos are letting Kubiak interview for OC vacancies in Jacksonville and Minnesota after initially blocking other teams from interviewing him.

In Munchak, the Broncos get another seasoned coach. At 58, he’s two years younger than Fangio, a fellow native of Pennsylvania.

A former head coach in Tennessee, Munchak was a finalist to replace Vance Joseph , but Elway chose Fangio after being won over by his “death by inches” ethos regarding accountability.

Munchak instead gets the chance to fix the Broncos’ chronically leaky O-line.

Last year, the Broncos lost three interior starting linemen to injuries and ended up using a guard at center and four tackles down the stretch.

Munchak was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection as a guard for the Houston Oilers from 1982-93 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, three years before Elway’s enshrinement. After his playing career, Munchak joined the Oilers’ coaching staff in 1994, beginning a two-decade career that included a stint as head coach from 2011-13.

He spent the last five seasons coaching Pittsburgh’s offensive line, and the Steelers have compiled a 54-25-1 record over that span.

Steelers promote Sarrett

PITTSBURGH — Shaun Sarrett is the new offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers promoted Sarrett on Monday to replace Mike Munchak, who left to take the same position with the Denver Broncos. Sarrett joined the Steelers as an offensive assistant in 2012 and was promoted to assistant offensive line coach in 2018. He will take over one of the best lines in the league.

The Steelers had three Pro Bowlers this season: left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro.

Sarrett previously worked at Duke University and Marshall University. He played collegiately at Kent State, where he played guard.

Coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers have “full confidence” in Sarrett.

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